was not entirely united to the Kingdom till the year 1501 by Albert Duke of Lithuania who was chosen King of Poland This Dutchy contains eight Palatinates viz. Vilnae Troki Bressici Nowogrodeck Minsk Mseislaw Vitepsk and Polosk It is a hundred leagues long and a hundred and fifty broad and is bordered by Muscovy on the North and East by Russia and Volhinia on the South and by Samogitia Prussia and Podlachia on the West The chief Rivers of the great Dutchy are the Niemen and the Dzwina The Province of Russia which was united to Poland by King Casimir the Great anno 1341 is bordered by Lithuania on the North and by the Mountains of Hungary and Transilvania on the South It has Upper Volhinia and Upper Podolia on the East and Little Poland on the West It contains three Palatinates Leopold Chelm and Belch the principal River that runs thro' it is the Bugg Bokutia which is part of the Palatinate of Leopold is a small Country border'd on the North with the Niester and on the South with the Carpathian Mountains It was sold to Poland with the Towns of Sniatyn and Kolomey upon the River Prut by Alexander Palatin of Valachia for 500 Ounces of Silver The chief City of Pokutia is Halioz on the Niester whither Lewis King of Poland and Hungary transferred the Archbishoprick of Leopold anno 1375 with a design to joyn Russia Podâ—lia and Pokutia to Hungary because of their sertility But the whole Polish Nobility took up Arms to oppose that Enterprise and made so much noise about it in the Diet that the Archbishoprick was restored to Leopold Prussia is bounded on the North with the Balâ—â—k Sea on the South with Great Poland and Masâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the East with Lithuania and on the West 〈…〉 The Kingdom of Poland was long 〈◊〉 with a cruel and bloody War about the â—â—osession of this Province For when the Knights of the Teutonick Order were driven out of Syria by the Saracens they were received by Conrade Duke of Prussia and Brother to Lescus King of Poland who finding himself unable to defend his Country against the continual Incursions of the Idolatrous Prussians called in those Knights to his Assistance in the year 1228 promising them half of what they could Conquer in Prussia and in the mean time putting 'em in possession of the Province of Culm till they should be able to make themselves Masters of some part of the Country This was the fatal Spring of all the Differences which engag'd Poland in a War that was carryed on with so Obstinate a Fury For the Knights of the Teutonic Order grew at last so Formidable to their Neighbours and by successive Victories rais'd their Power to such a heighth that after they had subdued all Prussia they gave many Battels to the Polanders who could never utterly expel 'em tho they sometimes obtain'd considerable Victories over them as in the Battel which Jagillon fought against Grunwald and Tanneberg in the Year 1400. In the mean time the Teutonick Knights were so proud of their new Conquests that forgetting their Original and scorning the humble and samiliar Name of Brother with which their Religious Constitution oblig'd 'em to content themselves they began openly to claim the Title of Lords notwithstanding the pious Zeal of their great Master Vlric who endeavour'd to oppose so scandalous an Innovation And tho they were frequently beaten by the Polanders they ceased not to continue the War because they were assisted by the Emperors and by the Princes of the House of Austria 'T is certain that the Austrian Family cou'd never endure that the Polanders shou'd recover Prussia as it appears by the following Instance When Sigismund K. of Poland sent Ambassadors to the Dyet at Augsburg Anno 1530 to justifie his Pretensions to that Province the Difference was adjusted in favour of Poland but the Execution of it being left to the Emperor Charles V the Resolution of the Diet took no effect These Knights assum'd such an absolute and independent Authority that they would not submit even to the Decrees of the Popes for Locticus King of Poland having sent to Avignon to complain that these Military Friars had usurped one of his Provinces the Pope order'd 'em to restore it upon pain of Excommunication but they had so little Regard to his Menaces that they resus'd positively to quit their Possession Under the same Loctâ—us the Chancellor of Pomerania a factious man and a secret Enemy to his Soveraign plotted to deliver up that Province to the Marquess of Brandenburg but he was taken and put in Prison before he could execute his treacherous design Nevertheless the King pardon'd him at the Request of his Brothers However it seems the Affront he thought he had receiv'd made a stronger Impression upon him than the sparing of his Life for not long after he put several Towns of Pomerania into the hands of the Marquess of Brandenburg and among the rest the City of Danâ—â—c In the mean time one Bâ—â—â—sia who was Governor of the Citadel of Daâ—tzâ—c for the King of Poland defended that place and acquainted his Master with the present Exigency of his Affairs but before the Polanâ—â— could come up to his assistance he was oblig'd to call in the 〈◊〉 Knights allowing them half the Government of the Ciradel of Dartzie provided they would defend it entirely a whole Year at their own charge by which means the Citadel was not only preserved but the Town it self was retaken But the Polanders had no reason to boast of that Success for their pretended Friends were so far from contenting themselves with the promis'd Reward of their Service that they resolved to make themselves the sole Masters of the Citadel notwithstanding the repeated Remonstrances of Bogusta and the rest of the faithful Polanders And this open violation of a solemn Treaty was the occasion of a bloody War which created so implacable an Animosity betwixt the Polanders and their encroaching Neighbors that the least Pretence was sufficient to rekindle the Flame And afterwards when Casimir the Grandson of Locticus renew'd his Complaints against them and prevail'd with the Pope to excommunicate them if they would not restore that usurped Province they slighted both him and his Excommunication But at last by the Peace which was concluded betwixt Casimir and the Order it was agreed upon That the Great Master should be acknowledg'd as a Prince and Senator of the Republick under the Protection and Dominion of Poland Some time after the Province was divided into two Parts call'd the Royal and Ducal Prussia Albert of Brandenburg Great Master of the Teutonic Order having turn'd Lutheran and being married fix'd his Residence in this Province and Sigismund yielded up to him the Ducal Prussia on condition that he should remain a Vassal to Poland And by the Peace of Oliva made in the Year 1660 the Soveraignty of Ducal Prussia was finally yielded up to the Elector of Brendâ—â—â—ing Thus at present 't
is only the Royal Prussia that ought to be reckon'd a Province of Poland and even tho' it belongs to the Republic 't is govern'd by its own Laws and enjoys particular Privileges They have a peculiar Treasury and a Treasurer and when the King summons the Arrierban the Nobility are not obliged to go beyond the Frontiers of the Kingdom This Province is divided into three Palatinates Culm Marienburg and Pomerania It s chief Cities are Thorn upon the Vistula Elbing a league from Frischlaff and Dantzic which is the most considerable of 'em all and the capital City of the Palatinate of Pomerania which comprehends all the Country Westward of the Vistula to the Confines of Germany Upon the Coast of Prussia the Waves of the Sea cast Amber upon the Shore which the Fishermen take up in Nets It is soft at first but soon after grows so hard that it may be turned or engraved and cut into all sorts of Figures 'T is also found in certain great Lakes in the same Province especially in the Bishoprick of Warmia There are also many Lakes that abound with Fish almost in every part of the Country In the Palatinate of Marienburg there is the Lake of Drausen which sends forth the River Elbing that discharges it self in the Frischaff which is a Bay or Gulf of the Baltick Sea about twenty leagues in length and two in breadth In the Palatinate of Pomerania there is a Lake betwixt Konicz and Schochaw which is seven leagues long and five broad and is the head of the River Bro which falls into the Vâ—stula about four leagues above Culm There are also three other almost as large as the former in the same Palatinate near the City of Dantzic and both the Palatinate of Culm and the Bishoprick of Warmia are so full of Lakes that it would be almost an endless Labour to mention every one of them particularly Massovia hath Prussia on the North little Poland on the South Podlassia on the East and great Poland on the West The Vistula and the Bugg are the principal Rivers that water it This Province began to be united to the Crown of Poland by Ziemowit who was Prince thereof in the Reign of Casimir the Great but the Union was not fully perfected till the Death of the Dukes John and Stanislaus in the Reign of Sigismund I. anno 1526. It contains only one Palatinate which formerly took its Name from the Town of Czersk but is now call'd after the Name of the Province Samogitia or Samojedia which is a Dependancy of the Dutchy of Lithuania is border'd by Courland on the North the River Niemen on the South Lithuania on the East and the Baltic Sea on the West The Christian Religion was introduc'd into this Country Anno 1413 by the pious Care of King Jagellon who took the pains to instruct those People himself because they could not understand the Polish Priests The chief Towns in Samogitia are Rosienia on the River Dubissa and Miednich There are no Palatinates here but the Province is divided into several Starosties or Governments of Castles and the first Starosta is a Senator Since Courland depends upon Poland and is the Frontier of Samogitia it will not be improper to give a short account of it here 'T is divided into two parts Courland and Semigallia the River Dzwina separates it from Livonia on the North 't is bounded with Samogitia on the South Lithuania on the East and the Baltic Sea on the West This Country has been subject to a Prince who is a Vassal and Feudatory of Poland since the Year 1561 that Godfrey Ketlâ—r great Master of the Teutonic Knights in Livonia having voluntarily resign'd his Office put all Livonia with the Town of Riga the capital City of the Province into the hands of Nicholas Radziwill in the Name of Sigismund Augustus who gave him Courland and Semigallis which were then reckon'd part of Livâ—ia on Condition that he should remain a Vassal to the Crown of Poland The City of Mittauw in Sâ—â—â—â—â—ita is at present the Metropolis of that little State and the Residence of the Duke Upper Volhinia reaches from Polesia on the North to upper Pâ—dâ—ia on the South and from lower Volbinia on the East to black Russia on the West It s chief Cities are Lucko or Lusuck or Luceowia on the River Ster and Kremienice which is situated upon an Eminence on the bank of the River Izwa about eight leagues from Luceowia towards the South The Province of Podlachia which was united to Poland in the Year 1569 is bounded by Lithuania towards the East and Massovia towards the West 't is ten leagues broad and thirty leagues long It s chief Cities are Augustow and Biclsk which gives Name to a Palatinate CHAP. III. Of the State of Poland with respect to its Neighbors and of the various Success of the Wars in which it has been engag'd with ' em POland reach'd heretofore from the Black Sea to the Baltic and from 〈◊〉 to Hungary but as all the States in the World are subject to great and frequent Revolutions Poland has had its share in the general Calamity and is at present confin'd within much narrower Bounds For it may be observ'd in general that every Republick is look'd upon by its Neighbors as a Country which they have a kind of Right to invade And the same Remark may in a peculiar manner be apply'd to Poland both with respect to the Manner and Constitution of its Government and the insatiable Ambition of all its Neighbors of which the Turks Tartars and Moscovites are most formidable 'T is long since the Turks dismember'd Valachia and Moldavia from this Kingdom and afterwards the Cossacks being oppress'd by the Nobility and restrain'd from their wonted Pyracies on the Black Sea resolv'd to shake off a Yoke which they could no longer bear and by that means gave the Turks an opportunity to invade Vbrania in the Reign of King Michael and to make themselves Masters of Caminiec the capital City of Vpper Podolia and the only place of strength which the Polanders had upon that Frontier That fatal War continued after the death of K. Michael and disturb'd the Reign of his Successor John III till the Polanders were at last constrain'd to make a Peace at Zurawno in Pokutia for the Army of the Turks and Tartars was so numerous and formidable that Year that it consisted of above 180000 effective Men and on the other hand that of the Polanders was so weak that they could not bring above 12000 Men into the Field because they were depriv'd of the Assistance of a considerable part of the Forces of Lithuania who were drawing together near Leopold under Prince Michael of Radziwill their General but could not joyn the grand Army because the Infidels had block'd up all the Avenues to the Camp so that the General was oblig'd to continue at Leopold with the Marquess de Bethune and the L. Hide Ambassador from the K.
persons of all Ranks and Sexes into Slavery so that Thracia Scythia and almost all Asia was fill'd with Polish Slaves The Tartars are naturally so hardy that they swim over the Rivers in the Winter when there is no Ice which without doubt proceeds from the Mothers washing their Infants with cold Water They cross the great Rivers such as the Boristhenes after this manner each of them prepares several Faggots or Bundles of Rushes or Reeds which he ties to two Poles upon these he lays his Clothes Arms Saddle and all that he intends to carry along with him then he ties this little Bridge of Fagots to his Horse's Tail after which with one hand he takes hold of the Horse's Main and whips him with the other and in this equipage passes the River stark naked When the Tartars take the Field to make Incursions they agree beforehand that when they are pressed too hard by the Enemy they shall divide into several Parties each of which shall retire by a different way and that they shall afterwards rendezvous at a certain place They take these Precautions that those who pursue them seeing many tracts of Horses feet may not know which to follow They are so afraid of being killed or taken Prisoners that when they are press'd by their enemies they fly with such an amazing swiftness that having tir'd one of their Horses they leap from him at a full gallop upon the back of another without dismounting and if they find that they are still hotly pursu'd they first throw away their Sabre then their Bow and their Arrows and at last without alighting from their Horse they cut the Girths and drop the Saddle and by that means ease their Horses If in their flight they meet with a Defile or narrow passage they gallop thro' it with so much precipitation and disorder that they ride over one-another without minding those who command them no not the Cham who is their Prince which is an evident sign that they are all extreamly apprehensive of being kill'd or taken Prisoners The Cham who at present governs the Crim Tartars is of the Family of Gilerey and both he and all those of his Race are cloath'd in Silk the Officers in Cloth and the rest in Sheep-skins with the woolly sides next their skin in the Winter but they turn 'em outwards in the Summer or in rainy weather They wear no Turbans as the Turks and Persians do but Caps like the Polanders their Arms are a Sabre with a Bow and Arrows every one of them carries a Knife and an Awl to make Whips and Straps which serve to tye the Slaves whom they take in their Incursions they are extreamly afraid of Fire-arms their greatest strength consists in the swiftness of their Horses which are very ugly but never tire and each Tartar has many of them which he leads along with him and they know their Masters so well that they follow 'em when they fly without losing 'em or running away from ' em Their usual Food is Horse-flesh which they like so well that they prefer it before Beef I have seen some Tartars who were Prisoners in Poland eat Horses that dy'd of any Distemper and even devour the Head Feet and Intrails None but the Rich eat Bread and the rest live upon Milk Millet and Turkey Wheat They are very lazy when they are in their own Country but are extreamly laborious and vigilant when they go abroad upon an Expedition The Poor kill no Horses to eat unless they be sick and when they kill one they give part of it to their Neighbors they make a sort of Pudding with the Blood of the Horse they kill and the Meal of Turkey Wheat or Millet which they reckon to be a very delicious Ragou They eat but little Salt because they believe it to be bad for the eyes and since they are Mahometans 't would be needless to add that they eat no Bacon These are some of the most remarkable Observations I made during my abode in Crim Tartary The Tartars are divided into Hords or Cantons almost like the Switzers These Hords are unequal in bigness number and strength the greatest of them all is that betwixt Kilia and Bialogrod which are two Towns one at the mouth of the Niester and the other at the mouth of the Danube Next to this the most considerable is that of Oczacow a City and Fort which the Turks call Dziarerimenda at the mouth of the Boristhenes the smallest of all the Hords is that of Kipozako which takes its Name from the River that runs by the Town The Cham of the Tartars never goes out of the Crim to take the Field unless all the Hords march with him There are also some Mahometan Tartars subject to Poland who live in Lithuania near Vilna where they possess Lands and work as the other Lithuanians do they were establish'd there by Vitold Uncle to King Vladislaus Jagellon after he had expel'd 'em out of the Lower Volhinia King Jagellon had also Tartars in his Army when he routed the Teutonic Knights in the Year 1386. After this short account of the Tartars I proceed to take a view of the Cossacks and first of Vkrania CHAP. V. Of Ukrania and the Cossacks with an Account of the Lithuanians and Livonians LOwer Volhinia and Lower Podolia are both comprehended under the name of Vkrania which in the Sclavonish tongue signifies a Frontier because those Provinces are the Frontiers of the Turks and Tartars who are the most terrible Enemies of Poland This is a very large Country containing above 300 miles from East to West and above 180 from North to South Kiovia scituated on the Boristhenes is the capital City and was once one of the largest Towns in Europe but it has been so often pillag'd and harass'd by the Tartars that there is nothing to be seen in it at present but ruin'd Houses and Cottages with a Fort in which the Muscovites keep Garrison The Boristhenes which is one of the greatest Rivers in Europe runs thro' the middle of the Country and receives all the other Rivers that water it The first Rendezvous of the Cossacks who were originally Russian Peasants was in the Isles of the Boristhenes especially that of Tamahoâ—ka from whence they spread themselves thro' all Vkrania betwixt the Cities of Kiovia and Czyrkassy At that time they liv'd only by Hunting and Fishing they are call'd the Zaporovian Cossacks because they inhabit along the Boristhenes to distinguish them from those who live on the Banks of the Tanais or Don which empties itself into the Palus Meotis Stephen Battori King of Poland was the first who brought the Cossacks under Military Discipline and appointed them the City of Trethymirow upon the Boristhenes about twelve leagues below Kiowia for their place of rendezvous for heretofore they had no Leaders and were so far from observing Discipline that they march'd rather like Freebooters than Soldiers But from that time they began to make
their Drums and Trumpets and by discharging several Volleys of Canon round their Camp the new-rais'd Polanders believ'd that they were rejoycing for the arrival of the Tartars whom they expected which put 'em into such a consternation that they resolv'd upon a sudden flight their Officers not being able to stop them The disorder was so great and the flight so precipitate that the Cossacks were for a whole day of opinion that it was only a Feint to draw them from their Post but at last having detach'd some Troops to observe the Enemy they understood that there was not one Soldier left in the Polish Camp whereupon they marched immediately and pillag'd all the Baggage that the Polanders had left And the Tartars arriving afterwards in their Army they carried Terror and Desolation into the very Heart of the Kingdom Such was the fatal effect of a panick Fear that surpriz'd those new-rais'd and undisciplin'd Troops The Polish Army being thus totally dispers'd at Pilaveze a small City in Vpper Volhinia about two leagues from Chmielnich on the River Bugg the Tartars and Cossacks besieg'd Leopold with an Army of 300000 Men and at the first Assault took the Castle but they met with a more than ordinary resistance from the Town tho it was neither strong by Nature nor Art and defended by a small Garrison When these Barbarians perceiv'd that they could not make themselves Masters of the City they demanded 200000 Crowns of Gold for its ransom and the Burghers not being able to pay so exorbitant a Sum and fearing the Event of a Siege gave them 1200 Marks of uncoin'd Silver among which there was a great quantity of Church-plate but they not being satisfy'd with so small a sum continu'd to press the City which oblig'd the Burghers to give them 16000 Livres more which they rais'd with extraordinary difficulty and besides they gave them the holy Ornaments Cloth Silks and abundance of Furrs for tho' the City wants the Convenience of a River 't is a place of great Trade because it is the Metropolis of all Russia Thus the Cossacks and Tartars rais'd the Siege of Leopold October 24 1648 after which they ravag'd the Country and after the Tartars return'd home the Cossacks alone laid Siege to Zamoiscia a Town seated upon a Lake in the Palatinate of Belcz fortified with seven Bastions and beautified with an Academy which John Zamoski Chancellor and General of the Army of the Crown founded there It is famous for the vigorous resistance it made against Chemelnski General of the Cossacks who besieg'd it with an Army of above 60000 Men towards the end of the Year 1648. The Year following King John Casimir sent Deputies to Chemelnski to endeavour to bring him to a sense of his Duty and in the mean time to entreat him to restrain the Violence of his Troops and to hinder them from making Incursions But Chemelnski answer'd fiercely That he would put himself under the Protection of the Port if the Polanders would not grant him all the Conditions he requir'd The King who was resolv'd to leave no means unattempted to overcome the Obstinacy of the Cossacks sent other Deputies to treat with 'em concerning Articles of Peace they found Chemclnski at Pereaslaw where they deliver'd to him in the King's Name the Batoon of a General on the 20th of February 1649 and receiv'd his Proposals which look'd rather like absolute Commands than Conditions of Peace for he exclaim'd with great vehemency against Visnovieshi and Czaplinski and declar'd with an infupportable Insolence That he would never be at quiet till he had chastiz'd them for all the Injuries they had done to the Cossacks That Visnovieski must be punish'd and Czaplinski put into their hands as the Authors of all these Disasters That Potoski was not free from the Crime of having persecuted the Cossacks even into the Isles of the Boristhenes whither they had retir'd to save their Lives That nevertheless Potoski who was then a Slave in the Crim was punish'd sufficiently for all his pernicious Designs That to those three he might add the great Standard bearer of the Crown who had robb'd him of his Inheritance and had quarter'd his Troops in the Territories of the Cossacks where they committed all manner of Barbarities but that he did not impute all those Disorders so much to him as to Visnovieski and Czaplinski That therefore the Punishment as well as the Blame ought to fall upon those two and that if they were not punish'd he would perish with all the Army of the Cossacks or Poland itself should perish with its Senate Generals Lords and all the Nobility King Casimir perceiving the Design of the Cossacks by this Answer drew his Forces together and on the other hand Chemelnski call'd in the Tartars who came to his assistance with a formidable Army and attack'd a body of the Polish Troops which was encamp'd at Zbaras a small City of Lower Podolia upon the Frontiers of Lower Volhinia about ten leagues from Braclaw towards the North famous for the brave defence that a small number of Polanders made against an infinite number of Cossacks and Tartars who kept them invested for two months and thrice attack'd their Retrenchments without being able to force them for the Polanders defended themselves with so incredible a Valour that they gave their King time to come to their relief The Cossacks and Tartars hearing of their approach march'd secretly to Zborow on the River Bog to meet him where being defeated by King Casimir and understanding that another Party of Cossacks was routed by the Lithuanians they concluded a Peace with Poland which was afterwards ratified in the Dyet held at Warsaw in the same Year 1649. After the Peace was concluded with the Cossacks at Zborow Chemelnski their General growing daily more powerful and insolent assisted the Cham of Tartary against the Circassians without the King 's Leave and afterwards having receiv'd Succours from the Cham he attack'd the Hospodar of Moldavia from whom he exacted a great Ransom with a Promise to give his Daughter in Marriage to his Son Timothy But not being satisfied with so considerable an Alliance he sent Deputies Anno 1650 to the Port to desire some Auxiliary Forces and to put himself under the protection of the Turks Thus he shook off the Yoke of the Republic of Poland and the Cossacks made themselves Masters of all Vkrania which was an extraordinary mortification to the Polish Nobility who had just re-enter'd upon the Estates they had lost during the Insurrection of those Rebels King Casimir having lost all Hopes of reducing them by Promises or Favours resolv'd once more to have recourse to Force In pursuance of this Resolution he summon'd the Arrierban in the Year 1651 and led them with his whole Army into the Fields which depends upon the City of Lesinow beyond Beretesko a City of the Palatinate of Luceoria on the River Ster about a league from the Frontiers of Russia In
Nay even his Lady tho' a French-woman of the House of Mailly could never be brought to side with the French Faction tho' very Advantageous Offers were made to her She was Lady of Honour to Queen Eleonor and had promis'd her to be faithful to her which she did Inviolably This unshaken Fidelity in an Austrian French-woman was such that even the French themselves could not but admire and esteem it it being their Nature to Prefer that Vertue to all the Advantages that can be propos'd to them to engage them to part with it France had then almost all the Princes of Europe its Enemies but was still so Fortunate that Heaven would not somuch as suffer her to compass those Things which She most Earnestly desir'd when in process of Time those Things might have been Prejudicial to her Interest Thus the Divine Providence would not permit the Prince of Newburgh to be chosen King of Poland tho' France us'd all her Indeavours to make the Choice fall upon him which if it had taken effect would undoubtedly have been disadvantageous to that Nation for that Prince would not have fail'd to have prov'd her Enemy as did his Father soon after having Married his Daughter to the Emperor I return now to what I have already said that it is in the King of Poland's Power to dispose of all the Places and Offices in the Kingdom and Dutchy Those on whom he bestows them ought not only to be Gentlemen of Poland but ought also to be possest of some Estate in Land in the State or Country to which the said Place or Office Properly belongs So that a Gentleman whose Estate lyes all in the Kingdom of Poland cannot have an Office in the Dutchy of Lithuania neither can he whose Estate is altogether in the Dutchy have an Office in the Kingdom which Order is regularly observ'd tho' the Polanders and the Lithuanians are now properly but one Body and are no more than one People differing but in few things as to their manner of Living Nevertheless in the time that I liv'd in Lithuania I have observ'd that the Politer part of the Lithuanians come nearer to to the French than the Polanders do in all their wayes and particularly in their Briskness and Gayty tho' Lithuania is remoter from France than Poland When the King of Poland enters a City the Magistrates ought alwayes to bring him the Keys and he has power to make his own Regiment of Guards keep watch at the Gates The Citizens of Dantzick alone have the priviledge of Guarding their own Gates when the King enters that City nay they have a Right to hinder any Forces from entering with the King and to go the Rounds all Night in the Streets as long as he stays within their Walls But it must indeed be Acknowledg'd that Dantzic which is one of the most Considerable Hans-Towns is properly a free Republic under the Protection of Poland Consequently it has all the marks of an Entire Sovereignty For it condemns to Death without Appeal even the Gentlemen of Poland themselves if they happen to commit any Crime there that deserves a Capital Punishment It has a Mint of its own and Coyns its own Mony without any previous Leave or Permission obtain'd from the Republic of Poland tho' they Stamp the Kings Image upon it and they are not Oblig'd to take in payment the base Mony of that State however tho' the people of Dantzic may thus be reckon'd a Republic and particular Soveraign State they are nevertheless Oblig'd to send to the Diet some Deputies who never fail to speak in the Name of the Senate of Dantzic and who Consequently never fail to be Interrupted by the Chancellor who always desires them to be Silent forbidding them to take that Quality upon them which yet they are sure to take afterwards in the following Diets Dantzic is Scituated about a League from the Baltic Sea and almost at the mouth of the River Vistula That City till the Year 1170 consisted only of some Fishermen's Cottages but has rais'd it self since that time to such a height of Greatness that it passes now for one of the Principal Cities of Europe It must indeed be own'd that it is a Fine and Stately Place and its Port or Harbour very Famous but of difficult Access because the Vistula divides it self into several Branches before it discharges it self into the Sea and that Branch which goes to Dantzic is one of the least of them which is the reason that Great Ships have not Water enough to Anchor with their Lading thro' that Branch into the Harbour of Dantzic Between the Mouth of the River and the Port there lyes a Fort which is call'd the Light-house because there is a Beacon in it where there is a Light every Night that the Ships which are coming into the Harbour may discover it a far off Dantzic is the Town of the Greatest Trade in all Prussia most of which Trafick consists in Corn as doth almost all the Trade of Poland The Dantzickers have such a priviledge that none but themselves can be allowed to buy any Corn of the Polanders when once it is enter'd in their Port whether vast Quantities are brought to them from all Parts by the Vistula half the Revenue of the Port belong'd to the King of Poland since the time that King Sigismund Augustus oblig'd the Dantzickers to grant him that Tribute for their presumption in proposing some Provoking Conditions to him before they would suffer his Deputies to come into their City Dantzic is the Capital City of all Prussia 't is about Seven Leagues from Elbing and Twenty Six from Thorn 't is well enough Fortifi'd considering the Country since the Irruption which the Sweedes made into Poland in the Year 1655. But there are some Grounds that overlook and command it on the West-side From this Town the Polanders draw what Goods they want of Foreign Growth and Manufacture as Cloth Silks Stuffs Leather Paper Sugar Oyls and all the Spices which they use in very great quantities to Season their Fish and other Meat I do not speak of the Wines and Brandy nor of the Salt which is brought thither from France and worth but a Crown the French Muid or Hogshead because as for Wine the Poles like no other but that of Hungary as for Brandy they make it at home with Corn and as for Salt their Countrey abounds with it Thus the Wines Brandy and Salt that come from France to Dantzic serve only for Prussia however there are such considerable quantities of other Goods exported from Dantzic to Poland and so great a Return made from that Kingdom thither in Corn Money and other Things that as it is the only Place from which they draw all their Necessaries and to which they Trade 't is not in the least to be admir'd how that Town is come to be so Rich and Considerable All the Dantzickers were formerly Roman Catholicks But they Embraced the
Capital City of Upper Podolia 'T is now in the hands of the Insidels The Sixteenth is the Bishoprick of Smolensko which is scituated on the Boristhenes the Metropolis of a Dutchy and of a Palatmate heretofore depending upon Lithuania but now in possession of the Muscovites 'T is to be observ'd that most of the Bishops have in their Diocesses a Suffragan or Subordinate Bishop in Partibus Infidelium because those who bear the Title imagine that they were only made Bishops that they might have a Place in the Senate and enjoy a sufficient Revenue to support that Dignity They allow a small Pension to their Substilties for the pains they take in giving Orders and performing all other Episcopal Functions CHAP. X. Of the Palatins Castellans and Officers of State who are Senators THE First Secular Senatos are 36 in Number viz. 32 Palatins who are properly Governours of Provinces 3 Castellans and one Starosta The First of all the Secular Senators is the Castellan of Cracow who was advanc'd to that Dignity by King Boleslaus Crivoustus about the year 1103. This Prince being provok'd by the Insolence of Scarbimirus Palatin of Cracow who was perpetually endeavouring to stir up the People to Rebellion expell'd him out of the Senate and threw him into Prison where he died And that he might leave an Eternal Mark of his Resentment to Posterity he made an Edict or Constitution by which it was Ordain'd that for the future the Castellan of Cracow should always precede the Palatin The Second and Third Places belong by Turns to the Palatin of Cracow and Posnania The Palatinat of Cracow is in Upper Poland and that of Posnanania in the Lower or Greater Poland In this Palatinate there is a Town called Srim scituated on the River Varta about Four Leagues above Posnania near which there is a Mountain where they dig up Pots Pitchers and other Earthen Vessels all form'd by Nature which are soft and afterwards harden in the Air. The Fourth is the Palatin of Vilna in Lithuania The Fifth the Palatine of Pandomir a City of Upper Poland scituated on the Vistula The Sixth The Castellan of Vilna The Seventh The Palatin of Kalisch a City of Great Poland The Eighth The Palatin of Troki a City of Lithuania scituated upon a Lake The Ninth The Palatin of Siradia a City of Lower Poland scituated on the River Varta about Six Leagues from Kalisch and Eleven from Lencicia The Tenth The Castellan of Troki The Eleventh The Palatin of Lencici a City of Lower Poland scituated upon an Eminence about Four Leagues Eastwards from the River Varta The Twelfth The Starosta of Samogitia The Thirteenth The Palatin of Brest or Bressici a City of Lithuania the Metropolis of the Province of Polesia scituated on the River Bug. The Fourteenth The Palatin of Kiovia in Lower Volhinia But this Palatinat is only Titular because the Muscovites have kept the possession of the Town ever since the Cossacks put it into their hands The Fifteenth is the Palatin of Inowlocz a City of Lower Poland scituated on the River Germ about Two Leagues below the Lake Guplo and Five from the Viscula The Sixteenth The Palatin of Russia so called from the Name of the whole Province though there are several Palatinats in it and though he is only Palatin of Leopold The Seventeenth The Palatin of Upper Volh nia or of Lucâ—oria The Eighteenth The Palatin of Upper Podolia which was farmerly a Province of Poland There are many Wild Oxen and Asses in this Country It extends from Upper Volhinia to the Niester and from Lower Podolta to Russia The Chief Cities of Upper Podolta are Caminiec scituated on the River Smotrzy and Bar seated on the Row which empties it self into the Bug about Seven Leagues below Braclaw But this Palatinat is at present a meer Titular Dignity because the Turks have been Masters of it ever since the loss of Caminiec The Nineteenth The Palatine of Smolensko This Palatinat is also Titular because the Muscovites have possessed it since the Year 1654. The Twentieth The Palatin of Lublin a City in Upper Poland seated on a Brook which falls into the River Vieprz about Two Leagues below the Town The 21th The Palatin of Losk a City of Lithuania seated on the River Dzwina The 22th The Palatin of Belcz a City of Black Russia about Three Leagues Eastward from the River Bug. In this Palatinat there is a Lake which grows dry once every Three years the Waters retiring with a great Noise into the Cavities of the neighbouring Hills But they return some time after and 't is only during this Interval that they can take the Fish The 23th is the Palatin of Nowogrodeck a City of Lithuania about Three Leagues from the River Niemen The 24th is the Palatin of Plocsko a City of Lower Poland scituated on the Vistula about Three Leagues from the Dutchy of Massovia The 25th The Palatin of Vitepsk a City in the Dutchy of Lithuania scituated on the River Dzwina The 26th is the Palatin of Massovia which is a Province of Poland the Metropolis whereof is Warsaw scituated on the Vistula The 27th is the Palatin of Polaquia or of Bielsk a small City about Four Leagues from the River Narew In this Palatinat is the Lake Augustow which is Five Leagues long and half a League broad The 28th is the Palatin of Rava a City in Lower Poland The 29th is the Palatin of Brzesty a City in Lower Poland about Four Leagues from Plocsko In this Palatinat is the Lake Gulplo which is very full of Fish and is Four Leagues long and one broad This Lake is the Head of the River Germ which runs to Inowlocz and in the Palatinat of Kalisch changeth its Name to Netec and afterwards empties it self into the River Varta The 30th is the Palatin of Chelm a City of Black Russia about Seven Leagues from the River Bug towards the East In this Palatinat there is a Lake called Biale which signifies White It s Water is extreamly black and the Fish very good 'T is said the Water of this Lake Polisheth every thing that is washed with it during the Months of April and May. The 31th is the Palatin of Mseislaw a City in the Dutchy of Lithuania scituated on the River Sosz which empties its self into the Borysthenes about Forty Leagues lower The 32th is the Palatin of Marienburg a City in Royal Prussia scituated on one of the Arms of the Vistula which falls into the Frischaff This City was heretofore the Seat of the Great Master of the Knights of the Teutonic Order and in the Church of the Castle are still to be seen a great many Forms or Seats which formerly belonged to those Religious Knights of St. Mary The 33th The Palatin of Braclaw a City in Lower Podolia scated on the River Bug. This Palatinat which contains all the Lower Podolia is at present only Titular There is a Lake in the Desarts betwixt this Province and
the Borysihenes the Water of which Congeals to Salt by the heat of the Sun so that it may be broken in pieces and carried away in Carts like Ice but it Melts immediately with Rain The 34th is the Palatin of Pomerania whose Palatinate is in Royal Prussia The 35th is the Palatin of Minsk a City in the Dutchy of Lithuania seated on the River Suislocz The 36th is the Palatin of Czernichowia a City of Lithuania scituated on the River Derna This Palatinat which is also a Dutchy is only a Titular Dignity Having thus given an Account of the 32 Palatines 3 Castellans and one Starosta who are Senators it may not improperly be observ'd that tho' the Quality of Castellan and Starosta is inferiour to that of a Palatin there are Four of them who possess almost the First Ranks among the Lay-Senators I have already intimated the Reason why the Castellan of Cracow is the First Temporal Senator and as for the other Three 't is probable that this Precedency was granted them in Recompence of some Brave Actions which the Castellans of those Cities had perform'd The Office of a Palatin is to Lead the Troops of his Palatinate to the Army to Preside in the Assemblies of the Nobility in his Province to set a Price upon Merchandices and Commodities to take care that the Weights and Measures be not altered and to Judge and Defend the Jews He hath a Vice Palatin under him who must take an Oath to him and who ought to have an Estate in Land which they call Possessionatus The Castellans are the next in Dignity to the Palatines and there are two sorts of them in the Kingdom who are usually distinguish'd by the Titles of Great Castellans and Petty or Sub Castellans The number of the former both in the Kingdom and Dutchy amounts to 32 and that of the latter to 49. ' Twou'd be equally tedious and unprofitable to give a particular account of 'em all and therefore I shall content my self with observing in the general that they are all Senators Lieutenants or Deputies of the Palatines and Heads of the Nobility in their respective Jurisdictions In the next place I shall proceed to mention the Officers of State who are Senatours The First is the Great Marshal of the Kingdom The Second The Great Marshal of the Dutchy The Third The Chancellour of the Kingdom The Fourth The Chancellour of the Dutchy The Fifth The Vice-Chancellor of the Kingdom The Sixth The Vice-Chancellour of the Dutchy The Seventh The Treasurer of the Kingdom The Eighth The Treasurer of the Dutchy The Ninth The Sub-Marshal or Marshal of the Court of the Kingdom And the Tenth The Sub-Marshal or Marshal of the Court of the Dutchy These are all the Members of the Polish SENATE I have in another place given a sufficient Account of the Privileges and Functions of the Officers mention'd here and therefore I shall conclude this Chapter with observing that besides the Four Senatours who ought always to attend the King and to assist him with their Counsel in all Deliberations and Judgments all the other Senatours who are at Court have also the privilege to assist in such cases And all those who are present in Council and Consent to the Decree or Sentence are obliged to Sign it not only in Criminal but also in Civil Cases that they may afterwards be accountable for their Proceedings to the Whole Body of the Republick CHAP. XI Of the Order of the Nobility or Gentry THE Third Order of the Republic of Poland is that of the Nobility who are only capable of possessing all the Offices and Lands both in the Dutchy and Kingdom For all the Peasants are Slaves and the Burghers of Towns and Cities are only lookt upon as Tradesmen who can possess at most but some Houses in the Cities and the Lands about a League round them As for Strangers how Noble soever they may be in their own Country and whatever Services they have done in the Army to the Republick they can neither possess an Estate nor rise to any higher Preferment than the Command of a Regiment of Foot or at most the Place of a Major-General which is an Office not much different from that of a Brigadeer in France for the Polanders will never suffer that a Stranger tho' never so expert in War should have the general Command of their Army The Nobility or Gentry are the Guardians of the Laws and Liberties of the Republic and the Electors of their Soveraign They bestow the Crown and Scepter upon him and furnish him with Ministers and Counsellors They make their own Laws and determine both their Duties and Privileges They are oblig'd to defend the Rights of their Countrey against the Incroachments of any aspiring Prince whose Ambition might carry his Designs beyond the limits prescrib'd to him by the Laws Since the number of the Gentry is so great that they cannot all assist at the General Dyets they chuse Deputies in the Petty Dyets whom they send to the General Dyets to preserve their Ancient Privileges and Constitutions and to contrive and Enact new Laws for their Security The Polish Gentry are generally perswaded that 't is their Interest to preserve an Uninterrupted Peace with their Neighbours that they may be able to preserve all their Provinces But 't is plain from the Event that they are extreamly mistaken in their Politics for Poland lying open on all sides and being surrounded by so many Enemies we may easily suppose that every one of them may find an opportunity to surprize some part of the Kingdom before the People can put themselves in a posture of Defence All that the King can do in such a juncture is to summon the Nobility together to oppose the Enemy which is the same with the Arriere Ban in France and is called the Postpolite in Poland Upon such occasions 't is to be observ'd that the King must send His Circular Letters thrice into each Palatinate to Assemble them That none are exempted from the Service but the Chancellour and the Starosta's of Frontier Places That the Nobility of Poland are not oblig'd to go above Three Leagues out of the Kingdom That those of Lithuania and Prussia are not oblig'd to go out of the Kingdom at all That the King cannot keep the Gentry in Arms above the space of Six weeks and that all the Courts of Justice are shut up during the time that the Arriere Ban is Assembled It is so far from being the Interest of the Republick to maintain a constant Peace with their Neighbours that 't was this very Maxim which occasion'd the loss of the Third part of their Country For in the Reign of Vladislaus the IVth they built Fort Kudack on the Boristhenes to hinder the Cossacks from Cruizing on the Black Sea for fear of Irritating the Turks But this False Step in stead of securing the Quiet of the Kingdom engag'd 'em in a War with the Cossacks and Tartars and even
on them and to all the Cities according to what has been ordain'd in the preceding Diets and to what shall afterwards be ordained in the following Diets shall be inviolably kept and preserv'd and that he shall issue out his Letters Pattents to Confirm them in all their Clauses and Conditions They also frequently add several other Articles according to the exigency of the present Juncture and the Quality and Circumstances of the Elected Prince As for the Ceremonies that are used when they make the King Swear the Capitulation The Arch-bishop and the Marshal of the Deputies carry it before him after the Mass is said and require him to take an Oath to observe it according to his promise Then the King being upon his Knees before the Great Altar says after the Chancellor We N. Chosen King of Poland and Great Duke of Lithuania Russia Prussia Massovia Samogitia Kiovia Volhinia Podolia Podlassia Livonia Smolensko Siberia and Czernichovia Promise to Almighty God and Swear upon the Holy Evangelists of Jesus Christ to observe maintain and accomplish all the Conditions agreed upon at our Election by our Ambassadors with the Senators and Deputies of Poland and of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania and Confirmed by the Oath of our Ambassadors and to perform the same according to all the Clauses Points Articles and Conditions mention'd therein and in such sort that the speciality cannot derogate from the generality nor the generality from the speciality All which we promise to Ratifie by our Oath on the Day of Our Coronation After the King has Sworn to keep the Pacta Conventa the Chancellor gives him the Decree of his Election Written in Parchment and Signed by the Senators and Deputies The Republick of Poland uses these Precautions at the Election of their King that if afterwards he should act contrary to what he promises to obsorve the Senators may have a right to put him in mind of his duty It was the breach of one of those Articles which gave the Polanders occasion to complain of King Michael for in the Pacta Conventa which he Swore to observe they had Inserted this Article That he should not Marry any Princess without the Consent of the Republick Nevertheless without asking their Consent he Marry'd the Emperor's Sister and the Party that was form'd against him look'd upon this as a sufficient ground to compel him to Abdicate If the Prince who is Elected be not present at Warsaw he takes the Oath in the presence of the Deputies whom the Republick sends for that purpose and obliges himself before them to observe all the Articles of the Capitulation 'T was thus that Sigismond the Third Swore to keep the Pacta Conventa in the Abby of Oliva near Dantzick Anno 1587. as they were drawn up by the Senate and the Nobility 'T is the Custom in Poland that the Great Marshal or in his absence the Petty Marshal carries the Staff erect before the King when he goes to any Ceremony But 't is observable that from the time of his Election to his Coronation they carry the Staff bow'd down that when the King Issues out any Letters Orders or Constitutions he only assumes the Quality of King Elect and that no Dispatches can be Sealed but with the little Seal of the Closet which is a sign that the Election is perfected by the Coronation which is as it were the Seal of it CHAP. XIX Of the King's Coronation A KING of Poland cannot exercise the Royal Authority before his Coronation for he can neither dispose of any Office nor Benesice nor so much as grant any Favour nor use the Great Seal of the Chancery and the Courts of Justice which ought to be kept in his Name and are shut up at the beginning of the Interregnum cannot make a Decree till after his Coronation T is the New King who appoints the Day for this Ceremony which must be perform'd at Cracow in the Cathedral Church in the Castle This City takes its Name from King Cracus who built it in the Year 700 after he had left Gnesna which was formerly the Capital City of the Kingdom It is scituated on the Vistula in Upper Poland 'T is the Seat of a Bishop who is a Suffragan of the Arch-Bishop of Gnesna The City is very large fine and well-built but the Streets are ill Paved as in most other Cities of that Country However the Streets are very broad and straight with a great Square in the middle where the Town-house is built The Castle or the King's Palace is seated upon a little Eminence or Rock the Foot of which is washed by the Vislula The Circumference of this Eminence is very small and consequently the Palace is of no very great Extent and as for the Church tho it be the Cathedral of a great Diocess and the Burying-place of the Kings of Poland 't is one of the smallest and least Beautiful Structures of that kind that I have had occasion to see in that Country It must be acknowledg'd that the King's House is really well built but besides the extraordinary smallness and obscurity of the Court it has neither Garden Wood nor Water nor is it adorn'd with any Walls or Avenues It was formerly a strong place when the strength of places consisted in the height of their Scituation but 't is now only fit to refist some flying Parties of Horse 't is here where the Jewels of the Crown are kept with the Royal Ornaments that are used at the King's Coronation There is also to be seen in the Little Hill or Rising Ground on which it stands the Cave or Den of that Furious Dragon which made such a terrible havock in all the Neighbouring places and which 't is said Cracus killed by laying some Meat for him mixt with Pitch and Brimstone When the Coronation-Day draws near the King makes his Entry into Cracow on Horseback the Sheriffs of the City carrying a Canopy of State before him The Troops both Horse and Foot March before with their Officers and are follow'd by the Palatines Bishops and Ambassadors on Horseback The Ceremony is doubtless very Splendid and I know not where a Traveller can have occasion to see a more Magnificent Cavalcade A Man who rides on Horseback before the King scatters some small pieces of Silver stampt with the Effigies of the New King among the People in the Streets but this Liberality costs him so little that I do not believe there are a hundred Crowns distributed Thus the King is conducted from the City Gate to the Castle passing thro the publick place where there are several Triumphal Arches adorn'd with Statues Devices and various Inscriptions On the day that precedes the Coronation which is called the day of Expiation they perform the Funeral of the Deceased King whose Body is carry'd to the Church of St. Stanislaus at Schalka where the Marshalls break their Staves and the Chancellors their Seals against the King's Coffin The New King goes also thither
not be Crown'd and that the austrian Faction oppos'd it both because she was a French-woman born and because she was but a private Gentlewoman But the event show'd the contrary for she was Crown'd at Cracow with her Husband without the least opposition But if a Queen of Poland be not a Catholick she cannot be Crown'd as it happen'd to Helen the Wife of Alexander I. and Daughter to the Duke of Muscovy who being of the Greek Church and refusing to imbrace the Roman Catholick Faith the Republick would never consent that She should be Crown'd Tho' according to the Constitutions of the Republick and the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom both the Kings and Queens of Poland ought to be Crown'd at Cracow we find that this Ceremony has been sometimes perform'd in other places For Queen Cecilia the Wife of Vladislaus IV. was Crown'd at Warsaw in the Year 1637. And tho' there was a Law made the next Year that the Queens should always be Crown'd at Warsaw Anno 1670. 'T is true this was done with the consent of all the Orders of the Republick When the Queen is Crown'd the King must desire it of the Republick he must be present at the Ceremony himself Conduct her to the Church and present her to the Archbishop of Gnesna or to the Bishop who is to perform the Ceremony The Archbishop Anoints Her with the Consecrated Oil and puts the Crown upon Her head the Scepter into Her right hand and the Globe of Gold into Her left The Queens of Poland have no Officers but a Marshal and a Chancellor neither of whom are Senators but only Judges of the Differences that happen among her Domesticks They Answer the Harangues that are made to the Queen when an Ambassador makes her a Compliment in His Master's Name or when a Present is made to her at the Marriage of a Maid of Honour The King furnishes the Queen with Money to defray the Charge of her Houshold But after the King's death she must maintain her self and all her Retinue with the Revenue which the King bestows upon her with the Consent of the Republick both for her Dowry and for her Marriage-Present These Revenues are call'd the Reformation and consist of the Reversion of a certain number of Starosties which she cannot enjoy till they become vacant by the Death of the present Possessors So that a Queen of Poland is frequently kept from her Estate till she be just ready to leave it For sometimes those who possess the Starosties that are in her Reformation out-live her But if the King die before the Queen's Reformation be settled upon her the Republick allows her a Yearly Pension out of the Crown-Lands as they did to Queen Eleanor in the Year 1674 after the Election of King John for they were so king to that Princess as to give her a Yearly Pension of 120000 Livres by an express Article which was afterwards inserted in the Pacta Conventa but she chose rather to quit both that and the Kingdom than to see a French Gentlewoman succeed a Princess of the House of Austria CHAP. XXI Of the Polish Army THERE is so little Order or Discipline observ'd in the Polish Army that the Country is frequently harrass'd by those who are paid to defend it and the Republick is oblig'd to Raise New Troops every Year At the first there were few Cities in Poland But when the Inhabitants grew more Industrious in Cultivating the Ground they were perpetually molested by their Neighbours who by frequent Inrodes endeavour'd to deprive 'em of the fruit of their Labours In order to oppose these Invasions the Kings caused Castles and Fortresses to be built in the Cities which always subsisted so long as they were Protected by the Royal Authority and defended by good Officers and Disciplin'd Soldiers But since those Forts were neglected several Lords have endeavour'd to usurp the Posession of 'em that they might extend their Dominion over the Cities and oppress the Burghers as they do the Peasants in the Villages Those whom the Kings entrusted with the Government of those Places did not employ the Revenues that were annex'd to 'em in Repairing the Walls and Fortificatious whence it comes that all their Cities are open and that the Soldiers who are put there into Winter Quarters may go out when they please and Ravage the Country For when a Regiment is to be sent from one end of the Kingdom to the other the Commander is only Order'd to set out and to go to the place appointed without mentioning either the time or the places through which he is to March or the Cities where he is to Quarter so that he may run through the Whole Kingdom and so sometimes spend a Moneth or six Weeks in Marching to a place which he might have reach'd in Eight days 'T is plain that these disorderly Marches must of necessity waste and destroy the Cities and Villages through which the Soldiers pass Nor is the Law able to to remedy such an insupportable Grievance because it is not the Custom in Poland to establish Magazins and Store-houses in any place The Gentlemen who go to the Army spend the best part of their Estates in furnishing themselves with Magnificent Arms fine Horses and rich Apparel maintaining a Numerous Train of Servants Their Estates alone are not sufficient to defray so vast a Charge and besides they receive no Pay for a considerable time after they enter into the Service so that they are in a manner constrain'd to Oppress the People that they may be able to support their extravagant vanity Some who are naturally of a less violent temper endeavour to excuse a Fault which they are forc'd to acknowledge by laying the blame upon the Court pretending that the King bestows the Royal Gifts of the Republick and the Offices and Dignities upon the Courtiers or other great Lords who either have no need of 'em or do not deserve 'em in stead of giving 'em to those who have done good Service in the Army where they have spent their Estates and expos'd their Lives for the defence of their Country Others accuse those who are entrusted with the management of the Finances who make 'em wait very long for their Pay and even then oblige 'em to quit part of it that they may procure the rest These Grievances exasperate their Minds and frequently occasion great Complaints in the Diet. When they Levy Soldiers in Foland the Captains exact Contributions on those Places where they Raise their Men and give very little to the Soldiers Retaining the Money they Receive on the Publick Account always finding some unjust pretext to Defraud the Soldiers of their Pay who are consequently under a strong Temptation to Rob and Pillage the Country the Officers not daring to Restrain a Disorder which is occasion'd by themselves To put a stop to these Irregularities it has been frequently Propos'd to the Diets by some Wise and Considering Persons to keep the Soldiers always
and Rhenish Wines are brought by the Baltic-Sea to Dantzic They are not only naturally weaker than Hungary Wine but lose a great deal of their strength upon the Sea for 't is extreamly difficult to Transport the New Wines in November by reason of the Ice which makes the Sea impassable As for the Rhenish Wine it seldom goes farther than Dantzic except a little which is spent in Prussia and besides they never drink it without Sugar because it is too sharp Tho the Polish Brandy or Aquavitae is made of Corn 't is as good and strong as that which is made of Wine but 't is almost only us'd by the common People the rest only drinking it when the Weather is excessively Cold. When the Polanders make a Feast all the Guests who are Invited must bring a Knife Fork and Spoon along with them because it is not a Custom to lay any of these Utensils upon the Table they Sow a piece of Linnen round the Table-Cloath which serves for Napkins After all the Guests are come the Gates are shut and are not open'd till all the Company are risen from the Table and all the Plate is found for if they did not use this Precaution the Footmen would steal part of it and this is also the reason why they lay neither Knives Spoons Forks nor Napkins upon the Table Every Person of Quality has a Hall in his House which they call the Banquetting-Hall in which there is a place for a Side-Table surrounded with Ballisters This Side-Table from which the Cloath is never taken off till it be very dirty is cover'd with abundance of Plate and over it is a place for the Musick which is usually Compos'd of Violins and Organs Those who are Invited to the Feast bring their Footmen with them and as soon as they are seated at the Table every one of them cuts off one half of his Bread which he gives with a Plate full of Meat to his Servant who after he has shared it with his Comrade stands behind his Master and eats it If the Master calls twice for a Glass of Wine or other Liquor the Servant brings as much more and drinks in the same Glass with his Master without rinsing it Tho' there is a great deal of Meat brought to the Table there is nothing carry'd back to the Kitchen not even of the last Course for the Servants seize upon all the Meat and their Ladies make each of them carry a Napkin to bring away the Dry Sweet-meats or Fruits that are brought to the Table After they have done Eating they usually go to Dance These People at least the Genteeler sort eat very decently for they never touch the Meat with their hands and are so skilful in Carving that they hold a Partridge upon the end of their Fork and cut it in Six pieces But while they are at Table they think of nothing but Eating for the Gate is shut and is never open'd till after Dinner or Supper The King usually Eats only with the Queen or with some Great Lord But when he Hunts or Travels upon the Road he causes all the Gentlemen even those who serve in his Chamber to sit down at Table with him for if he shou'd use them otherwise or give 'em the least occasion to think that he slighted them he wou'd run the hazard of incurring the hatred of all the Nobility For an Instance of which I shall only observe that Sigismond of Luxemburg whom Lewis King of Poland and Hungary his Father-in-Law had Chosen for his Successor was Excluded from the Crown meerly because he slighted the Gentlemen of Poland and would not make them Eat with him CHAP. XXVIII Of the way of Travelling in Poland THERE are no Inns in Poland where one may Lodge conveniently and be Accommodated with a Bed The only Houses of Entertainment are places built of Wood which they call Karczma where Travellers are oblig'd to Lodge with the Horses Cows and Hogs in a long Stable made of Boards ill joyn'd and Thatch'd with Straw 'T is true there is a Chamber at the end of it with a Stove but 't is impossible for one to Lodge in it in the Summer because of the Flyes Fleas Bugs and the Noisome Smell of the place for they never open the Windows even in the hottest Weather so that Strangers chuse rather to lye in the Stables in the Summer than in the Chamber And besides the Gospodarz or Inn-keeper Lodges in that Room with his Children and whole Family and usually keeps a Hogshead of stinking Cabbage the smell of which is extreamly offensive to Strangers tho' the People of the Country who are accustom'd to such perfumes are not incommoded by it Those who have occasion to Travel in the Summer may avoid part of these Inconveniencies by Lying in a Barn upon fresh Straw for the Gospodarz gathers and Locks up every Morning the Straw which was given at Night to those who Lodged in the Stable or Chamber in order to reserve it for those who shaall come to Lodge after them When a Forreigner is oblig'd to Travel in Poland he ought to furnish himself with a Calash drawn by Two Horses a Bed made of a Thin Quilt a Small Feather-bed a Pair of Sheets a Bolster a Coverlet and an empty Straw-bed to wrap about the rest of the Clothes All this Baggage is put into a Sack or Bag of Serge which serves for a Seat to him that Travels in the Calash He must also provide a small Case of six or eight Bottles sill'd with Beer Wine or Brandy and a Basket for Bread Boiled Meat and Candles without forgetting Oates for the Horses and Grease for the Wheels of the Calash And besides he must remember to renew his Provisions in every City for there is little or nothing to be had in the Countrey Inns and the Cities are very remote from one another After one is thus fitted out the Expence of his Journey is very inconsiderable for his Lodging costs him nothing and I believe the Reason why the Inns are so poorly furnish'd is because the Gentlemen never pay for what they have 'T is no wonder then that the Gospodarz deny them every thing and usually Salute 'em with this Complement Niemazs that is There is none nevertheless they freely give what they have to Strangers But since there are few Travellers the Inn-keepers make no Provision for them So that they are oblig'd to go to the Dvour or the Lord of the Village's House for what they want The whole Countrey of Poland is Plain without Stones or Hills and consequently very convenient for Travelling in a Calash with Two Horses There are several Polanders who have no Coachman and drive their own Calashes so that they spend very little upon the Road especially in Summer because when they arrive at the Karczma they put their Horses to Grass and make the Gospodarz give them a little Hay which he is very unwilling to do because he is
Kingdom 19. If the King become a Widower and has a desire to marry he shall advise with the Senators about the choice of a Wife and if he takes a Forreigner She shall not have above Six forreigners in her Service 20. Only the Latin and Polish Languages shall be made use of for the King's Letters and Orders 21. The Laws called Pacta Henricea shall be observed in the Judgments called Post curialia 22. All the differences that are now depending shall be determined with all the Speed that may be 23. No new Custom or Novelty shall be admitted in the order of the King's Table but the ancient Custom shall be exactly observed 24. Places becoming vacant in the Intervals of Dyets shall be supplyed in six weeks 25. The Militia shall be so regulated at the Dyet of the Coronation that is to come that there shall be no need of Foreign Troops and Military discipline shall be exactly observed 26. The Salt shall be tax'd and shar'd out in all the Palatinates according to the ancient Custom 27. All Gentlemen shall have the freedom of the Salt and Mines 28. The Ancient Privileges of the Palatinates shall remain inviolable 29. The Prorogatives and Priveledges of places Towns and Cities shall be restor'd wherever they have been abolish'd 30. All the Priviledges which belong to the Universities of Cracow and other Cities as well Eclesiastick as Secular as also all the Articles which were promised upon Oath at the Coronations of the Kings Henry Stephen Sigismund Vladislaus John Casimir and others shall be revived at this Election which if it be not done or any thing endeavour'd to the contrary of these Articles then the Inhabitants of Poland and Lithuania shall be free and disingaged from their Obedience These Articles being Signed without exception a great Embassy was appointed to go and offer the Crown to the Elector who was already advanced to Tarnowits on the frontiers of Poland The Son of the Grand General of the Crown ten Senators and seventy Knights attended by above 2000 Gentlemem were appointed for that Service The Elector gave them Audience in the Fields near Tarnowits under a very Rich Tent and appear'd on that occasion with an extraordinary Magnificence The Ambassadors and Gentlemen of their Retinue paid him all respect as to their Prince and kissed his Hand and there was afterwards a noble Entertainment The new King and the Bishop of Passau Ambassador of the Emperor to the Dyet of Poland sat at one Table the Ambassadors and other Persons of Principal quality were at another Table and their Retinue at a third After Dinner the king went with the Ambassadors to view his Forces that were encamped near that Place and conferr'd the command thereof to the first Ambassador who received it with all Submission The Speech of the said Ambassador is so singular that I think fit to insert it here as well to give an example of the Eloquence of the Poles as to shew what opinion they have of their Crown which they think it seems above all other Crowns of the World Most Serene and Most Potent King THE Most Serene Republick of Poland which alone has preserv'd her Ancient Liberty and which after so much Blood as has been drawn from her own Veins may be called the Wonder of preceding Ages gives you to understand by our Mouths That you have been Elected by our Free Suffrages KING of Poland Grand Duke of Lithuania Russia Prussia Massovia Samogittia Kiovia Volhinia Podolia Polaquia Livonia Smolensko Servia and Czernicovia 'T is upon you Most Serene Elector of Saxony that we have cast our Eyes and whom we Imbrace and Cherish not only for the sake of so many Emperours Kings and Great Captains from whom you are Descended but for the sake of those Heroick Virtues that render your Name and Reputation so bright and glorious to the World besides an Infinite Number of Signal Endowments that make you worthy of a Scepter Could our Republick mistake her self in so Noble a Choice Has she not Chosen a Hero Belov'd of Heaven and Earth A Hero who has Won so many Victories from the Barbarians and who is laden with so many Laurels Has she not preferr'd Augustus before all the rest who before he was Chosen to Supply her Vacant Throne so well deserv'd to fill it by His Valour Fame and Eternal Honour Certainly we could never hope for Comfort after so many Calamimities which we were no longer able to bear but in expectation that your Reign will put an end to them You have Triumph'd Most Serene King over the Turks Triumph now over the Hearts of the Polanders Stretch forth over our Crown your Armes so well accustom'd to Vanquish the Infidels The People who give you their Suffrages give 'em to a Prince whom Rome looks upon as her Defender and Christendom as her Bullwark a Prince whose Experience Policy Atchievements and so many Victories cannot but gain th Esteem of all the World And who can better Rule a Nation who has Subdu'd so many Countreys and is still Famous for the preservation of her Liberty than Your Majesty Most Serene King in whose Countenance and continu'd Course of Life we behold that Courage and every thing that is capable to draw Veneration to Your Person Poland that has always been so Warlike and Nurs'd up in Armes from her Cradle shall behold You Imitating if not Surpassing the Heroick Actions of Your Ancestors endow'd with a Martial Heart breathing only what the Sublimest Bravery inspires into your Breast and full of Majestick Sweetness She will admire Your Generosity and all those Royal Manners that must needs force the World to confess that 't is only in Your Breast where Majesty Resides Lastly She will behold and admire You not only for Your Natural Endowments and those Rare Perfections You have Acquir'd in Your Illustrious Family and in Climates where Your Valour has been signaliz'd but for Your Imbracing our Religion This is that Light which renders Heaven Serene and dissipated those Clouds and Tempests which at first obscur'd Your Free Election Most Fortunate Prince You have Rejoyc'd the Holy City You have paid Your Ancient Mother the Honour due to Her and Saxony is become by Your Change of Religion a Thousand times more Illustrious than by Your perpetual Victories By abandoning the Errours of Your Country You have found Crowns amongst Forreigners There were several Competitors Excellent Princes and of great Worth who Aspir'd to the Crown of Poland but none of 'em who had Heaven a sharer in the Contest You only were the Person who began with God and for Your Premium carry'd the Prize of that Faith which You had Recover'd That thing once Confirm'd to us we gave You our Free Suffrages with all our Hearts and have Proclaimed You to Reign over us We are Ignorant whether You will or will not be our King but are Assur'd that You are Valiant Warlike Affable Pious Catholick and give You our Hearts our Prayers
him none In the mean time the Cham drove his Brothers out of the Peninsula without the Grand Signior's assistance whom he suspected to be the Contriver and Promoter of the Rebellion concluding that if he had not had such a design he would have deliver'd 'em up long before or at least would have kept 'em so secure that they could not have made their escape At the some time Amurath who was still engag'd in the War with the Persians sent to require Muchmetkirey's Assistance no longer as a Friend but as a Master and in a haughty and imperious manner which so enrag'd the Cham that he began to commit Hostilities against the Grand Signior without declaring War He besieg'd the City of Caffa and press'd it so hard in a few days that the Turks who were not in a posture of defence because they were not afraid of being attack'd by a Prince who was their Ally had resolv'd to surrender it in two days time if they were not reliev'd Then Amurath who was extreamly alarm'd at so unexpected an Expedition sont for one Assan a Tartar whom he had kept a long time Prisoner and who was said to be the Bastard-brother of Machmetkirey He spoke to him in a very obliging manner and told him that if he would obey his Orders he would advance him to great Honours that the Cham of Tartary had declar'd War against him without any reason that he was a Tyrant and abus'd his Subjects so barbarously that they were no longer able to bear his Cruelties and that if he would undertake to invade Crim Tartary he would furnish him with Mony and an Army to deliver his Countrymen from their inhuman Oppressor Assan who had never dreamt of exchanging his Chains for a Scepter transported with Joy at the prospect of so happy a turn in his Fortune readily accepted Amurath's Offer He was declar'd Viceroy of Tartary under the protection of the Grand Signior to whom he took an Oath of Fidelity and to all his Successors in the Ottoman Empire and afterwards having receiv'd the Golden Standard as a Mark of his Investiture he departed from Constantinople with 40 Galleys commanded by General Ochiali and arriv'd in a few days at Caffa just as that City was going to be surrender'd to Machmetkirey After he had reliev'd Caffa he endeavour'd by Presents and Promises to gain the principal persons among the Tartars to his side and to induce them either to kill the Cham or to deliver him up alive to him He found it no difficult Task to debauch their Fidelity for the Grand Signior had furnish'd him with a great quantity of Money and 't is the general weakness of the Oriental Nations that they are very easily brib'd Thus having secur'd a considerable number of them and even some of the Chain 's most faithful Friends he caus'd him to be massacr'd with his two Sons after which he was acknowledg'd Cham of the Tartars and acquir'd the Esteem and Affection of his Subjects by his extraordinary Liberality to them 'T was thus that the Crim Tartars who till then were a free People became Vassals to their ancient Allies and by the way this may serve to shew us what success may be expected from an Alliance with the Turks The Tartars are naturally so barbarous and cruel and of so haughty and imperious a temper that they despise all those who profess the Faith of Christ and look upon them as Beasts so that when they obtain any Advantage over them they impose insupportable Conditions upon them Thus the Tartars who inhabit along the Volga impos'd very shameful and dishonourable Conditions upon the Muscovites when they forc'd 'em to pay tribute to 'em anno 1470. After they had ravag'd Muscovy and subdu'd part of the Country they made a Peace with the Muscovites upon these Conditions That the Czar or Great Duke should pay a yearly tribute to the Tartars which he should be oblig'd to send to them on Horseback that he should go himself on foot with all the Lords of his Court to meet the person who should come to demand the said tribute even tho it were but a Postillion or Groom that the Czar should in a very respectful manner present him with a Pot of Mares-Milk to drink that if any one drop of it should happen to be spilt upon his Horse's Mane the Duke himself should be oblig'd to lick it off with his Tongue that he should spread a fine Sable Furr under the Feet of him who should read the Prince of Tartary's Letters that he and all the Lords of Muscovy should hear them read upon their Knees and that they should blindly obey all his Orders even tho he should command them to make War against the Christians In the Year 1226 in the Reign of Boleslaus Pudicus the Crim Tartars made a terrible Irruption into Poland over-run all the Palatinate of Lublin and having passed the Vistula at Zavichost ravaged the Country and carried away a great Booty into Russia After they had secur'd their Prey they return'd to Poland where they committed far greater Barbarities and as if the whole Kingdom had not been sufficient to satisfie their insatiable Desire of Plunder they march'd as far as Silesia where the Dukes of Oppelen Ratibor and Lignitz having joyn'd the Teutonic Knights and the Troops of Great Poland resolv'd to attack them but were themselves unfortunately defeated and the slaughter was so great that the Barbarians carried away with 'em nine Sacks full of Ear-rings which they had cut from the Christians after the Battle Some time after in the same Reign the Tartars return'd into Poland with a great Army accompanied by Leo and Romanus Dukes of Russia who tho' they profess'd the Christian Faith scrupl'd not to join with its mortal Enemies After they had over-run the Palatinates of Lublin Sandomir and Cracow they retir'd into their own Country but the Dukes of Russia being also desirous to enrich themselves with Booty made Incursions into Massovia and Lithuania where Boleslaus defeated them and Romanus was afterwards kill'd at Zavichost a small City on the Vistula about two leagues below Sandomir But as if those first Incursions which the Tartars made into Poland had only serv'd for a Whet to their ravenous Appetites they return'd again in the Reign of Leseus Niger in the year 1279 with a terrible Army and carried away so many Slaves that having counted them at Vlodzimirs a Town of Vpper Volhinia on the Frontiers of Russia they found that there were Twenty thousand young Women among the Captives I might venture to affirm that the Tartars have invaded Poland in the Reigns of almost all its Kings In that of John Albert they made an Irruption into Volhinia in the year 1493. And in the same Reign being joyn'd by the Turks they made such a dreadful Incursion into that miserable Country that after they had sacked Premislia Jeroslaw and several other Cities they carried away above One hundred thousand